Abstract: The aim of the present paper is to introduce a feature-based Product-Process-System model and ontology in order to retrieve and share knowledge for simulation of manufacturing systems. Product knowledge is the combination of product specific information, such as functionality, color, and product variants, and the corresponding product model. The model provides understanding of the product structure, rules, constraints and assembly-specific information in relation to the product model. In the design and modeling of assembly processes, features form the foundation for analysis and knowledge acquisition of the product. This knowledge includes geometric and non-geometric information. In the present paper, an approach is proposed to share platform independent product-process knowledge between the assembly process and system design and even with the simulation environment.

Keywords: product-process ontology, knowledge management, feature-based modeling and analysis.